Horizontal and vertical tractor hitch



June 16, 1925.

- 1,541,812 J. M. HIGHDUCZHECK Y HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL TRACTOR HITCH" Filed Sept. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i: o v 3 v \q 27 ii lh/IIIII I .guvcnl'cr Juseph M- Highduuhenk J u-ne 16 1925.

J. M. HIGHDUCHECK HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL TRACTOR HITCH Filed Sepc- 1'7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1925 UNITED STATES 1,541,812 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. HIGHDUCHECK, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GREENS- BURG'r TOOL AND IiEAOHINE COMPANY, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL TRACTOR HITCH.

Application filed September 17, 1923. Serial No. 663,230.

To all 10 710017, it may concern:

Be it known that JOSEPH M. HIGHDU- CHECK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county of .l Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horizontal and Vertical Tractor Hitches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention coinprehends generally improvements in draft appliances and more particularly relates to an improved horizontal and verticaltractor hitch.

Theinvention as its primary aim and ob ject contemplates the provision of a device of the abovementioned character designed for connection to a tractor, preferably of the Fordson type and embodies manuallyactuated operating means for varying the line of draft, for instance, when plowing on hillsides.

As an equally important object the invention embodies in conjunction with the same operating means, a vertically swingable draft arm or tongue for use in conjunction with mowing and other machines and in addition includes the provision of means for releasably clamping the vertical draft arm on the main shaft so as toinsure of the vertical draft arm being arranged in the proper position of adjustment upon the actuation of the manually actuatable shaft which is geared-1n the main shaft.

More particularly, the present inventlon consists in the provision of a hitch of the;

above mentioned character wherein the main support is in the form of a casting of novel formation and is shaped to support and guide the laterally swingable draft arm during operation, the casting also being formed with houses for receiving the intermeshing gears and shafts constituting the manually actuatable operating means. v

Among the other aims and objects of the invention may be recited the provision of a device of the above .mentioned character with a view to compactness, and wherein the number of parts are comparatively few, the construction simple, the cost or production low. and the eiiiciency high. Further objects, as well as the nature, characteristics, features and scope of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying d awings,

and pointed out in the claims, forming a part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved hitch, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof with the cover of the inner gear housing removed and showing the arrangement of the gears therein.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device showingparticularly the construction and arrangement of the laterally and vertically swinging arms and inner gear housing, and

Flgure 4 is an end elevation in all the details of the outer gear housing with the cover removed to show the arrangement-of the gears therein Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings there is provided a support generally indicated by the numeral 1 which is designed to be attached to the rear portion of a tractor, not shown. This support is in the form of a casting and includes a laterally disposed body portion 2 with respect to the attaching portion 3, the latter being desirably in the form of a domeshaped cap, suitable fastening means 4 being employed to fasten the attaching portion in the same position as the customary jaw cap on a tractor of the Fordson type (not shown) subsequent, of course, to the removal there of. The body portion 2 is formed with a lateral extension 5 that is further formed with an inner gear housing 6, while the extension 5 is in turn formed with an outer gear housing 7, the latter housing being arranged in a vertical position while the inner housing is cast horizontally of the main body portion 2. Further, the body portion is formed with an eXteriorly curved segmental portion 8 acting as a guide in a manner that will hereinafter become apparent.

The outer side portions of theinner housing 6 are widened or thickened and constitute bearings 8 and 9 for a main shaft 10 which isarranged horizontally and slightly above the main portion 2 and the extension 5, being also journaled in the outer housing 7. A worm 11 is mounted on the shaft 10 and arranged within the inner housing 6,

and meshes with a'worm wheellQkeyed in turn to a secondary and vertically arranged shaft 13. Thrust bearings 11 are disposed between the ends of the worm ll' and the inner faces of the bearings 8 and 9 for permitting the free rotary movement of shaft 10 in the housing 6. This secondary shaft is journaled to the bottom of the housing and body portion which latter is thickened at this point to provide sufficient bearing surface, the lower end of the said secondary shaft projecting from the und'ersurface of the support so asto receive theinner end of an arm or tongue let. This tongue is rigidly connected to the shaft 18 as by a key and is held against displacement by a nut and washer arrangement 16. An upstanding and inwardly curved lip 17 is formed integral with the upper surface of the arm and embraces the outer edge and upper surface of the curved segmental extension 8, this arrangement facilitating the supporting and guiding of the laterally extending arm 14: during its lateral swinging motion'which is effected, of course, upon the rotation of the main shaft-and transmission of this movement to the shaft 13 by reason of the intermeshing worm and worm wheel. 'The outer extremity of the arm or tongue 14 is apertured as at 18'and adapted to receive the hook on the forward end of a plow (not shown).

In order that the arm may be'adjusted for instance by the operator of the tractor without necessitating the latter leaving the tractor, suitable laterally extending operating means are employed and in reducing this feature of the inventlonto practice a worm' wheel 19 is keyed to the'outer end of the main shaft 10' and arranged within the outer wheel 19 is a'worm 20 also arranged in the housing and keyed to a vertical and manually operable shaft 21. The lower end of this shaft is j'ournaled in bearings formed integral with the outer housing so'as to be supported in an upright position. "An operating handle in the form of a crank 22 is associated with the upper end of the shaft 21,

the handle portion proper indicated by the numeral 23 being of a revolving nature. 'It is preferred that this operating handle be positioned in proximity to the seat of the tractor, or at least be within'easy reach of the driver so that upon the'rotation of the shaft corresponding rotary'motion will be transmitted to the shaft 10 and thence to the shaft 13 as apparent so as to subsequently swing the arm or tongue l t in ahorizontal plane permitting of the varying of the line of draft, for instance, when plowing on hillsides.

As intimated, this invention contemplates the provision of a vertical sweep and in accomplishing this purpose another arm or tongue 25 is employed "being preferably formed with a forked inner end portlon 26,

the forked portions of which are provided with suitableopenings for the loose engagement of the same with the'main shaft 10 desirably on opposite sides of the bearings 8" and 9. The outer portion of the arm 25 is formed with an opening 27 for receiving the attaching portion of a mowing machine or the like. In order that this arm or tongue 25 may be adjusted so that the line of draft will be varied, suitable clamping means such as set screws 28'are employed for passing through the forked po'rtion 26 and engaging the shaft 10 thereby effecting rigid connection of the arm or tongue 25 with the main shaft 10. It is, of course, apparent thatit is scription that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Llkewlse 1t 1s believed that the advantages of the invention Will be readily apparent.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved apparatus, it will be seen that I haveprovided a simple, inexpensive and eflicient means for carrying but the objects'of the invention, and while I have particularly described the elements housing 7 while meshing with said worm" best adapted to perform the functions-set forth, it is obvious thatvarious changes in form, proportion, and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described theinvention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A horizontal and vertical sweep hitch for tractors including a support adapted to be attached to the rear portion of the tractor, said support comprising a main body portion and an attaching portion, inner and outer housings formed on the body portion and provided with bearing openings, all of said partsbeing cast in a single piece, a

main shaft journaled horizontally of the support, a secondary vertically arranged shaft journaled in the support and operably connected to the main shaft, an arm adapted for lateral swinging movement connected to the lower end of the'secondary shaft and arranged beneath and projecting beyond the support, a manually actuated shaft arranged in a vertical positionand having its lower portionjournaled in the outer porfor tractors including a' support adapted to be attached to the rear portion of the tractor, said support being formed with a segmental extension having a curved outer surface, a main shaft journaled horizontally of the support, a secondary vertically arranged shaft ournaled in the support and operably connected to the main shaft, an arm adapted for lateral swinging movement connected to the lower end of the secondary shaft and arranged beneath and projecting beyond the support, a lip carried on the laterally swinging arm and embracing the aforesaid segmental extension to facilitate the supporting of said arm, a manually actuated shaft arranged in a vertical position and having its lower portion journaled in the outer portion of the support and operably connected with the main shaft, another arm mounted loosely about the main shaft, and means for releasably clamping the last mentioned arm to the main shaft so that it will swing vertically upon the operation of the manually operable shaft when desired.

3. A horizontal and vertical sweep hitch for tractors including a support formed with inner and outer housings and with a segmental extension in proximity to the inner housing, a main shaft journaled in both housings and arranged horizontally of the support, a secondary vertically arranged shaft journaled through the inner housing and operably connected with the main shaft, an arm carried by said secondary shaft and adapted for lateral swinging movement, a lip on the arm for embracing the extension to facilitate the guiding and supporting of the arm during rotation of the shaft, a manually operable vertically arranged shaft journaled in the outer housing and operably connected with the main shaft, another arm mounted loosely about the main shaft, and

means for releasably clamping the last mentioned arm to the main shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4L wherein the means for operably connecting the several shafts together consists of intermeshing worms and worm wheels arranged respectively in the housings and keyed to the end of the adjacent shafts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH M. HIGHDUCHECK. 

